Fans of letteddywin.com know that I promote Teddy’s quest to win the presidents race because it is inarguably the first fan tradition that Washington Nationals fans can truly call their own.

With the opening of our new Nationals Park this month, many of us have been screaming that the team needs to create more DC traditions, and stop borrowing from other clubs as the team so brazenly did at RFK stadium with chants of Jose, Jose, Jose, Jose and singing of Sweet Caroline.

The choices are varied, which is good. The problem is that the team doesn’t provide music samples for people who aren’t familiar with the choices. So without further adieu, I present your choices for songs, complete with links to sample audio. Sample below, then vote here.

When a Nationals Player Hits a Home RunBecause We Can by Fatboy SlimBustin’ Loose by Chuck Brown (go 30 seconds in)Kernkraft 400 by Zombie Nation (not the best sample)Off We Go (the Air Force Theme)Song 2 by Blur (go 15 seconds in)
My vote goes to Because We Can, because I’m a firm believer in the capacity of stadium music to help energize a crowd and swing the momentum in a game. The home run song should be high-energy stuff.

During the 7th Inning StretchBuild Me Up Buttercup by The FoundationsThe Gambler by Kenny RogersRock Me Gently by Andy KimSeptember by Earth, Wind & FireShout by Otis Day and the KnightsTwist and Shout by The BeatlesYMCA by The Village PeopleYou Gotta Have Heart Damn Yankees, The Musical
This one is a no-brainer. It has to be You Gotta Have Heart. The song is sappy and sentimental, but it is about baseball and more importantly it uniquely belongs to Washington, DC. In time, when the fans have learned all the lyrics and are selling the place out for a winning team, this song will shake Nationals Park to its core at every 7th inning stretch.

When the Nationals Win The GameBeautiful Day by U2Celebration by Kool And The GangDancing in the Streets by Martha Reeves and the VandelasHow Do You Like Me Now by Toby KeithRock and Roll Part 2 by Gary Glitter
I don’t really like any of these choices. Three of them are too slow, and the other two (Celebration and Rock and Roll Part 2) are huge sports cliches at this point. Unfortunately I have to say I think I’d take a cliche over a bad song. Happy voting!